The Support at Home Program
The Support at Home Program
The Support at Home Program is designed to support older individuals to maintain their independence and quality of life.
The levels of support available in Aged Care include:
The Support at Home Program
- An Aged Care Assessment Test (ACAT) assessor will determine if help is required.
There are eight levels of support offered by Aged Care Australia:
- Level 1 : Minimal Support for Independent Living - Light housework, meal delivery, welfare check ins.
- Level 2 : Light Personal Care and Social Support - Assistance with dressing, showering, medications, social activities.
- Level 3 : Moderate Assistance with Daily Living - Regular personal care, mobility aid support, meal prep, household cleaning.
- Level 4 : High Frequency Personal and Domestic Support - Daily routine assistance, home modifications, toileting, continence care.
- Level 5: Daily Support with Health Monitoring – Hoists, transfers, transport to medical appointments, in home safety monitoring.
- Level 6: Comprehensive Health and Clinical Care – Nursing support, continence management, allied health therapies.
- Level 7: Intensive Daily Multidisciplinary Care – Assistance with all daily living activities, complex health conditions, dementia support.
- Level 8: Highest Classification of In Home and Palliative Care – Palliative support, 24/7 availability, specialised equipment, nursing interventions.
- Government funding is provided based on assessed needs.
All elderly Australians can apply for a Support at Home Package regardless of income or assets and receive a fixed amount from the government. However, the co-payment will vary based on if you are a full pensioner, part pensioner and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) holder or a self-funded retiree and non-CSHC holder. It is important that you do not delay getting an assessment as there can be very long wait times from when you meet with an ACAT assessor to when you receive your package.
- Do you receive the money ?
The government gives the money to a “provider” who holds the money. They pay companies like us for the care you receive. The provider will take a percentage of your package as an administration charge. If you would like help choosing a provider that is good value, please contact us on 0409 092 655 so we can point you in the right direction.
- Co-Payments
As mentioned above, all Australians are able to apply for the Support at Home Program, however, there is a mandatory co-payment charged by the government. Depending on the services funded by your ACAT and your income, you may need to contribute to your support at home. The level of co-payment is determined by Aged Care Australia. The fees are NOT charged by us. These are the fees the government charges for using the package.
This can be confusing for someone who is new to Aged Care and using government funding. The easiest thing to do is give us a call and we can explain it to you in a few minutes. We can help you get the care you or your loved one needs.